Work is due to take place next year to make the court room at Castle Rushen accessible.

Accessibility problems have meant the court room has not been in general public use for a number of years.

Traditionally it was the venue for the swearing in of a new Lieutenant Governor.

However, when Sir Richard Gozney was sworn in, in 2016, the ceremony had to be held at the main courthouse in Douglas, because the court room at the castle was no longer suitable.

In the House of Keys on Tuesday, Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly whether the court room would be ready for the next swearing-in ceremony, due to take place in 2021.

Mr Skelly, whose department oversees Manx National Heritage, said MNH would next year begin assessing options and costs for making the court room more accessible to a ’wide range of users’.

He added: ’This follows on from recent works to improve access to the ground floor of the castle. The work will also make the room suitable for the next governor’s swearing-in ceremony.’

The aim will be to provide disabled access - currently not available for the court room.

’Investment in the court room will also consider wider benefits to the community and options for enhancing the visitor experience of a significantly important heritage site,’ said Mr Skelly.